193 The Long and Winding Road from Let It Be, a perfectly adequate song from McCartney, but the epitome of funereal, from a Beatles POV.
192 Do You Want to Know a Secret from Please Please Me (US), Introducing the Beatles/the Early Beatles (US). A Lennon and McCartney original, with a weak, though endearing, Harrison vocal.
191 Don’t Pass Me By from the white album. Its most famous attribute may be its place in the “Paul is dead” myth: “You were in a car crash, and you lost your hair.” Written and sung by Ringo.
190 Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand” the German version of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”; released in the US on Something New. It’s fine; I’ll wait for the English translation. This probably ranks higher than the other German song from sheer exposure.
189 All Together Now from Yellow Submarine. Sounds like a kiddie song, but with lyrics like “Can I take my friend… to bed?”
188 Devil in Her Heart from With the Beatles (UK), Beatles’ Second Album. Hmm, those early Harrison vocals, this one again on a cover, are taking a beating on this list.
187 Oh! Darling from Abbey Road. A McCartney insincere blues, as opposed to, say Helter Skelter.
186 For You Blue from Let It Be. An insignificant Harrison song from that last released album.
185 Your Mother Should Know from Magical Mystery Tour. One of several McCartney dance hall songs. Don’t dislike it, just find it disposable. Though I do like it in the context of the TV movie
184 Dig a Pony from Let It Be. Unfortunately, the cliche about digging for a pony through a particular muck was stuck in my head re this Lennon song. ‘Nuff said.
For those of you who are devotees of Joni Mitchell (like me!), have you heard Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs “Beg, Steal or Borrow”? I thought it was just me, but others apparently heard the stylistic similarities (I would also argue there’s some thematic connections with early Joni Mitchell music–young person breaking free of social norms, etc., etc.).
Roger was the first person to alert me to the remix version of some of Joni’s classics like the “Big Yellow Taxi”; you can find various remix modernized versions in iTunes now–I found the original that Mr. O’Green recommended and a couple of others that you may enjoy–they are closer to house music than acoustic, but fun nonetheless. (Many thanks to Roger, who is an even better discographer than a librarian, which is saying A LOT!)
People who like early Joni might also like Bonnie “Prince” Billy (Letting Go album), see espeically “Strange Form of Life”; Shearwater’s Rook album; and Laura Viers, Carbon Glacier see especially “Ether Sings.”
If you like Ray LaMontagne’s “rock-a-billy” influence (can you say early Beatle influence???), see also Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds “Red Right Hand” (Let Love In) album and Eilen Jewell, Sea of Tears (See “Shakin’ All Over”). Full disclosure–I’m a Roy Orbison/Chris Isaak fan (again, early Beatles???).
Just thought I’d post this as the 70th birthday of Mr. Lennon rolled around and it made me think of the font of all musical knowledge–that ramblin’ rover, Mr. Green!
Happy Thanksgiving to librarians and music lovers alike!
Hi, TF! – Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!